Northern Ireland are still yet to taste victory under Michael O’Neill and face a difficult task of securing their first win under the new boss with a trip to Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo will captain his side and win his 100th cap in the process, hopefully toasting that with a much-needed victory. Portugal were beaten 1-0 by Russia on Friday and that result leaves them three points behind Fabio Capello’s side with three fixtures playe...More

We waited and waited for Spain to turn up in this game and eventually they did, with Cesc Fabregas sealing their final place in a tense penalty shoot-out (as if there is any other kind). Joao Moutinho and Bruno Alves were the unlucky ones and for Portugal and it was a cruel way for the team to depart the competition as they had matched the reigning European Champions over the two-hour contest. Before the match we were wondering whic...More

The first of the two Euro 2012 semi-finals gets under way tonight and an old rivalry is to be reignited. Current holders Spain take on 2004 runners-up Portugal, a contrast in styles but not in passion. Both have faced some tough tasks to get here, the Portguese coming second in the aptly named ‘group of death’ beating the Netherlands and Denmark to progress. Whilst Spain took on Italy and Croatia in their two toughest group games, only ...More

The quarter-finals of Euro 2012 kick off tonight with Group A winners, Czech Republic, facing off against the Group B runners-up, Portugal. Despite a 4-1 loss in their opening fixture against Russia, the Czechs managed to rally and win their last fixture against co-hosts, Poland, to top the group. Whilst they were expected to progress through the first stage, the same cannot be said for Portugal. In what had been dubbed the ‘Group of De...More

Portugal’s Euro 2012 campaign has been built on hard-work, leadership and passion, yet still the spotlight is on Cristiano Ronaldo in the build-up to a quarter final against the Czech Republic. The Portuguese captain is unable to get out of the press, despite his arguably average performance in a tournament where the chances he created should have seen his goal tally extend further than the two he currently holds. The midfield trio o...More

Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to perform and yet Portugal still find themselves in a favourable position heading into their final group game of Euro 2012. The Real Madrid winger has missed a hatful of chances through both games and still is not on the scoresheet. Coach Paulo Bento has been happy with his captain’s contribution, but in the opening game with Germany, they should have grabbed a point through Ronaldo. That point would hav...More